When the Steelers signed former Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky earlier this month, some people had to be thinking, "Hey, isn't that the guy who ... "
Yup, that's him.
The guy who beat Oklahoma on a behind-the-back handoff in the Fiesta Bowl two years ago.
The guy who started the impossible play that sent the game into overtime.
The guy who graces the cover of EA Sports' insanely popular video game "NCAA Football O8."
Let's start with the Fiesta Bowl, which produced one of the great finishes in sports history -- better than Cal's band-on-the-field victory over Stanford, because we're not talking about just one incredible play.
We're talking about three: the 50-yard hook-and-lateral on fourth-and-18 to tie the score with seven seconds left; the fourth-down option pass (from a receiver to a tight end) to pull Boise State within a point in overtime; and the fake-pass-with-the-right-hand, behind-the-back-handoff-with-the-left, Statue of Liberty play to win it.
Maybe fate decided that Zabransky, after a year as an undrafted free agent on the Houston Texans' practice squad, should join the franchise famous for the Immaculate Reception.
Incidentally, both those plays - Boise State's "Statue Left" and the Immaculate Reception - are among ESPN's final eight in its "Greatest Highlight" competition. "Statue Left" goes head-to-head with Cal's crazy kick return in the next round.
"If we make it past that, I think we have a pretty good shot," Zabransky said with a laugh during a phone interview Friday from Houston, where his fiancee lives.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a goat-turned-hero tale quite like Zabransky's against Oklahoma. With 62 seconds left in regulation, he threw a horrendous sideline interception that was returned 33 yards for a tie-breaking touchdown and a 35-28 Oklahoma lead.
Several heart-stopping plays later, Boise State had an unforgettable victory - but it didn't end there. Tailback Ian Johnson, who'd scored the winning points, dropped to his knees in the end zone and proposed to his girlfriend, and Zabransky wound up on the "NCAA 08" cover, beating out LSU's JaMarcus Russell.
Nobody has to tell Zabransky that if he didn't make up for his pick, EA Sports wouldn't have called.
"I would have been on the cover of something," he says, "and it probably wouldn't have been good."
Zabransky's agent, Monroeville native Eric Metz, remembers Zabransky's reaction when told how much the "NCAA 08" cover gig was worth (a little more than $40,000, according to Zabransky).
"He said, 'I'd pay that to be on the cover,' " Metz said.
The Steelers presented a good opportunity for Zabransky because coach Mike Tomlin likes to keep three quarterbacks, and last year's No. 3, Brian St. Pierre, was not re-signed.
"They showed a lot of interest, and I had a good workout," Zabransky said. "I can create a lot with my feet, which helps. They said they'd like to have a different kind of guy in the wings."
Spring camp begins May 17 on the South Side. Zabransky's marriage will go on as planned, May 31, but the honeymoon has been pushed to late June.
He didn't happen to propose to his fiancee on a football field, did he?
"Nope, no bended knee in the end zone," Zabransky said. "I leave that to the crazy running backs." Undrafted FA and he makes cover on NCAA 08 Football ahead of DeMarcus Russell. :clap:
What's even better is that we have him. Hopefully he makes the squad even though I hope we don't have to use him:crossfingers:

DIESELMAN

02-23-2008, 02:08 PM

Hey you never know...St. Pierre never impressed me, I was always happy whenever we released him, all 200 times lol Batch isn't getting any younger, so I hope this guy can not only make the team but be a decent backup to Ben.

DIESELMAN

02-23-2008, 02:15 PM

He could put some more weight on to, hes only a little over 200 lbs.

BlitzburghRockCity

02-23-2008, 02:20 PM

bring him on and let him take over behind Batch...if he works out and learns the system then we'll have the viable backup we need with Batch retires.

Black@Gold Forever32

02-23-2008, 02:27 PM

I'm not expecting much from this guy.....I hope he beats out St. Pierre....Really I would like to see the team just keep two QBs......But to me this is just another lame signing by the Steelers.....

Captcoolhand

02-23-2008, 02:42 PM

I'm not expecting much from this guy.....I hope he beats out St. Pierre....Really I would like to see the team just keep two QBs......But to me this is just another lame signing by the Steelers.....
Well it might not be be..... Batch is playing the last season on his contract. and I'm not sure if the Steelers will resign him again....:dunno:

Stairwayto7

02-23-2008, 03:27 PM

Can`t get real excited about a possible 3rd string QB, but hey I wish him luck!

yinzer

02-23-2008, 04:16 PM

I'm not expecting much from this guy.....I hope he beats out St. Pierre....Really I would like to see the team just keep two QBs......But to me this is just another lame signing by the Steelers.....

totally agree. and, he's no ben roethlisberger. not even close.

GoBenGo

02-23-2008, 04:31 PM

the guy is fast...moves well..and does not know how to give up...tons of heart...the kind of guy you want on the team...i can see him showing up in the slot position...could be the next hines?!?!?...i dunno..but i like his skills...

V_83

02-23-2008, 04:38 PM

I'm a big boise fan so I'm really glad we got him. Hopefully he will be a great backup for Ben. I doubt he will be the next Hines, if there ever will be one, all we can do is hope.

GoBenGo

02-23-2008, 04:47 PM

st pierre is still on the team?....might as well be in the witness protection program...

NOVA STEELERS

02-23-2008, 09:34 PM

Will be nice to see bsp gone

BlitzburghRockCity

02-24-2008, 01:20 AM

I'm not expecting much from this guy.....I hope he beats out St. Pierre....Really I would like to see the team just keep two QBs......But to me this is just another lame signing by the Steelers.....

I just can't get comfortable only carrying 2 QB's. Charlie isn't getting any younger and if God forbid something should happen that Ben would miss some games then all we have is Charlie...no more ARE to play QB in a pinch for us although Hines could do it. You end up having to rush out to try and sign BSP again or some nobody just to fill in and play backup. If this kid can beat out BSP and make the team Im all for it.

Stlrs4Life

02-24-2008, 05:56 PM

I think it's a good idea to have 3 QBs.

JensK

02-25-2008, 01:28 PM

The way ben have been acting the last 2 seasons, i don't see why we should be positiv about his health. For some reason he always seems to get injured in some way and miss a game or two.. IF that happens, we'll only have batch to play with, and yes.. Batch is a pretty decent QB, but i don't like to put all my trust in one guy, which would be the case... I say we go with 3 QBs, and then let batch go when his contract runs out.

Mach1

02-26-2008, 02:12 AM

Being from idaho and watcing him play quite a bit, he reminds me of jake plummer. So yeah I say let him battle it out for the 3 spot.

DIESELMAN

02-26-2008, 11:16 AM

The way ben have been acting the last 2 seasons, i don't see why we should be positiv about his health. For some reason he always seems to get injured in some way and miss a game or two.. IF that happens, we'll only have batch to play with, and yes.. Batch is a pretty decent QB, but i don't like to put all my trust in one guy, which would be the case... I say we go with 3 QBs, and then let batch go when his contract runs out.
Take away his 2006 season, Ben has held up pretty good, especially last year when he was getting pounded every game.

GoBenGo

02-26-2008, 11:39 AM

Take away his 2006 season, Ben has held up pretty good, especially last year when he was getting pounded every game. true deez, true! pounded he was...no thanks to our bum line...ben with a better than average, or even an AVERAGE line , holy moly, i would like to see that!....put the smurf turf vet in the slot or in motion...second coming of randle el (but better qb skills):yellowthumb:

V_83

02-26-2008, 11:40 AM

Yeah I wouldn't call Ben injury plagued because of a single year, although I am in favor of the 3 QB system. I like having the extra guy just in case, although I never hope to use him.